an autobiography-第21节
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more than a mile apart； I kept a look…out in the direction of the laboratory with a spy…glass。 My father's house was at the top of Leith Walk； and Smith's house was at the bottom of it。 When the flag was hoisted I could clearly see the invitation to me to 〃come down。〃 I was only too glad to run down the Walk and join my chum； and take part with him in some interesting chemical process。 Mr。 Smith； the father； made me heartily welcome。 He was pleased to see his son so much attached to me； and he perhaps believed that I was worthy of his friendship。 We took zealous part in all the chemical proceedings； and in that way Tom was fitting himself for the business of his life。
Mr。 Smith was a most genial tempered man。 He was shrewd and quick…witted； like a native of York； as he was。 I received the greatest kindness from him as well as from his family。 His house was like a museum。 It was full of cabinets； in which were placed choice and interesting objects in natural history； geology； mineralogy； and metallurgy。 All were represented。 Many of these specimens had been brought to him from abroad by his ship captains who transported his colour manufactures and other commodities to foreign parts。
My friend Tom Smith and I made it a ruleand in this we were encouraged by his fatherthat； so far as was possible； we ourselves should actually make the acids and other substances used in our experiments。 We were not to buy them ready made； as this would have taken the zest out of our enjoyment。 We should have lost the pleasure and instruction of producing them by aid of our own wits and energies。 To encounter and overcome a difficulty is the most interesting of all things。 Hence； though often baffled； we eventually produced perfect specimens of nitrous； nitric； and muriatic acids。 We distilled alcohol from duly fermented sugar and water； and rectified the resultant spirit from fusel oil by passing the alcoholic vapour through animal charcoal before it entered the worm of the still。 We converted part of the alcohol into sulphuric ether。 We produced phosphorus from bones； and elaborated many of the mysteries of chemistry。
The amount of practical information which we obtained by this system of making our own chemical agents was such as to reward us； in many respects； for the labour we underwent。 To outsiders it might appear a very troublesome and roundabout way of getting at the finally desired result。 But I feel certain that there is no better method of rooting chemical or any other instruction； deeply in our minds。 Indeed； I regret that the same system is not pursued by young men of the present day。 They are seldom； if ever； called upon to exert their own wits and industry to obtain the requisites for their instruction。 A great deal is now said about 〃technical education〃； but how little there is of technical handiness or head work！ Everything is bought ready made to their hands； and hence there is no call for individual ingenuity。
I often observe； in shop…windows； every detail of model ships and model steam…engines； supplied ready made for those who are 〃said to be〃 of an ingenious and mechanical turn。 Thus the vital uses of resourcefulness are done away with； and a sham exhibition of mechanical genius is paraded before you by the young impostorsthe result； for the most part； of too free a supply of pocket money。 I have known too many instances of parents； led by such false evidence of constructive skill； apprenticing their sons to some engineering firm； and； after paying vast sums； finding out that the pretender comes out of the engineering shop with no other practical accomplishment than that of cigar…smoking！
The truth is that the eyes and the fingersthe bare fingersare the two principal inlets to sound practical instruction。 They are the chief sources of trustworthy knowledge as to all the materials and operations which the engineer has to deal with； No book knowledge can avail for that purpose。 The nature and properties of the materials must come in through the finger ends。 Hence； I have no faith in young engineers who are addicted to wearing gloves。 Gloves； especially kid gloves； are perfect non…conductors of technical knowledge。 This has really more to do with the efficiency of young aspirants for engineering success than most people are aware of！
CHAPTER 6。 Mechanical Beginnings。
I left the High School at the end of 1820。 I carried with me a small amount of Latin； and no Greek。 I do not think I was much the better for my small acquaintance with the dead languages。 I wanted something more living and quickening。 I continued my studies at private classes。 Arithmetic and geometry were my favourite branches。The three first books of Euclid were to me a new intellectual life。 They brought out my power of reasoning。 They trained me mentally。 They enabled me to arrive at correct conclusions； and to acquire a knowledge of absolute truths。 It is because of this that I have ever since held the beautifully perfect method of reasoning； as exhibited in the exact method of arriving at Q。E。D。； to be one of the most satisfactory efforts and exercises of the human intellect。
Besides visiting and taking part in the works at Patterson's foundry； and joining in the chemical experiments at Smith's laboratory； my father gave me every opportunity for practising the art of drawing。 He taught me to sketch with exactness every object； whether natural or artificial； so as to enable the hand to accurately reproduce what the eye had seen。 In order to acquire this almost invaluable art； which can serve so many valuable purposes in life； he was careful to educate my eye； so that I might perceive the relative proportions of the objects placed before me。 He would throw down at random a number of bricks； or pieces of wood representing them； and set me to copy their forms； their proportions； their lights and shadows respectively。
I have often heard him say that any one who could make a correct drawing in regard to outline； and also indicate by a few effective touches the variation of lights and shadows of such a group of model object's； might not despair of making a good and correct sketch of the exterior of York Minster！
My father was an enthusiast in praise of this graphic language； and I have followed his example。 In fact； it formed a principal part of my own education。 It gave me the power of recording observations with a few graphic strokes of the pencil； which far surpassed in expression any number of mere words。 This graphic eloquence is one of the highest gifts in conveying clear and correct ideas as to the forms of objectswhether they be those of a simple and familiar kind； or of some form of mechanical construction； or of the details of fine building； or the characteristic features of a wide…stretching landscape。 This accomplishment of accurate drawing； which I achieved for the most part in my father's work…room； served me many a good turn in future years with reference to the engineering work which became the business of my life。
I was constantly busy。 Mind； hands； and body were kept in a state of delightful and instructive activity。 When not drawing； I occupied myself in my father's workshop at the lathe； the furnace； or the bench。 I gradually became initiated into every variety of mechanical and chemical manipulation。 I made my own tools and constructed my chemical apparatus； as far as lay in my power。 With respect to the latter； I constructed a very handy and effective blowpipe apparatus； consisting of a small air force…pump； connected with a cylindrical vessel of tin plate。 By means of an occasional use of the handy pump； it yielded such a fine steady blowpipe blast； as enabled me to bend glass tubes and blow bulbs for thermometers； to analyse metals or mineral substances； or to do any other work for which intense heat was necessary。 My natural aptitude for manipulation； whether in mechanical or chemical operations； proved very serviceable to myself as well as to others； and （as will be shown hereafter） it gained for me the friendship of many distinguished scientific men。
But I did not devote myself altogether to experiments。 Exercise is as necessary for the body as the mind。 Without full health a man cannot enjoy comfort； nor can he possess endurance。 I therefore took plenty of exercise out of doors。 I accompanied my father in his walks round Edinburgh。 My intellect was kept alive during these delightful excursions。 For sometimes my father was accompanied by brother…artists； whose conversation is always so attractive； and sometimes by scientific men； such as Sir James Hall； Professor Leslie； Dr。 Brewster； and others。 Whatever may have been my opportunities for education so…called； nothing could have better served the purpose of real education （the evolution of the mental faculties） than the opportunities I enjoyed while accompanying and listening to the conversation of men distinguished for their originality of thought and their high intellectual capacity。 This was a mental culture of the best kind。
The volcanic origin of the beautiful scenery round Edinburgh was often the subject of their conversation。 Probably few visitors are aware that all those remarkable eminences； which
